| Copyright (c) 2007 L. Mark Russell | | | | with a disability. |
| Before parents decide whether their child with a | | | | However, special needs trust offers several |
| disability needs some type of guardian, they should | | | | advantages as compared to guardians of the estate. |
| consider the alternatives to guardianship. These include | | | | Chief among the advantages is a solution to the |
| special needs trusts, representative payees, and citizen | | | | resource problems that might jeopardize the person's |
| advocates. | | | | eligibility for governmental aid. To be eligible for many |
| Special Needs Trusts | | | | governmental benefits such as Supplemental Security |
| Special Needs Trusts are a highly recommended | | | | Income and Medicaid, the person with a disability's total |
| alternative to a guardian of the estate. Special needs | | | | assets cannot exceed certain stated maximum |
| trusts accomplish the same objective as the guardian | | | | amounts (often just $2,000). |
| of the estate, management of the assets of a person | | | | |